Antonis Paraskevas is a hero of our times, the kind who’s never actually performed any heroic deeds. He hasn’t slain any dragons, he hasn’t fought any wars – he can’t even fly! He is just your average Joe. Only difference is, this one was once worshipped. Antonis was the kind of guy everyone wanted to be, a by-product of the entertainment industry, our modern-day hero generator.

My country is full of heroic monuments. Every village square has one. It seems that the more decadent a society, the more heroes it needs. And as the demand for heroes keeps growing, the easier it becomes to invent them!

Antonis Paraskevas is a tragic kind of hero. His fate is pre-determined, his end is inevitable and there’s nothing he can do to change it.

My country’s DNA is made up of tragic heroes.

Antonis is in a state of collapse. Being the hero that he is, he is obliged to survive and stake his claim on immortality. And that’s exactly what “The Eternal Return” is all about; immortality. Antonis may never make a comeback – at least not physically – but his memory will perpetually return, for all eternity. He owes it to himself and to those who made his what he was: a hero.

My country is in a state of collapse. True to its hero-worshiping nature, it gave birth to a long line of heroes and continues to do so, staking its claim on immortality -whatever the price. She owes it to her heroes.

Antonis Paraskevas is all alone. A blaring TV set is his only companion, his “entr’acte”. Like the chorus of an ancient tragedy, it provides running commentary and entertainment, a song and a dance.

My country is all alone. A blaring TV set is its only companion, its “entr’acte”. Like the chorus of an ancient tragedy, it provides running commentary and entertainment, a song and a dance.

Antonis Paraskevas has no identity. He is what others think of him – and he’s determined to keep it that way. One day he’s a shining star, a major player on the scene, the ultimate idol, the man of the year. The next day he’s bankrupt, irrelevant, a total has-been, a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown, a man gone missing.

My country has no identity. It is what others think of it. One day it’s the cradle of democracy, the birthplace of philosophy. The next day it’s a cradle of filth, corruption and laziness. My country hasn’t yet made up its mind what it wants to be. It’s still trying to figure it out…

Antonis Paraskevas (Greek for “Friday”) bears the surname of a castaway’s servant. My country is the servant of a castaway.

Elina Psykou

Born in Athens, Greece in 8/3/1977, Elina studied Film Direction at Lykourgos Stavrakos Film School and Sociology at Panteion University, both in Athens. She continued her studies receiving her MA (D.E.A) in Cultural History in Paris, France (E.H.E.S.S). In 2007, she participated in the Berlinale Talent Campus.

She has written and directed two short films and she has also directed TV spots for the National Greek Opera. Her first feature film as a director, “The eternal return of Antonis Paraskevas”, has received the first award of the Works in Progress section in Karlovy Vary IFF and premiered in Berlinale Forum 2013.